Advancing worldwide interest in spaceflight through a nonprofit open data initiative

The free and open accessibility of spaceflight information serves as a cornerstone for involving the public in space activities. Organized by a non-profit called The Space Devs, this endeavour is dedicated to the collection of public spaceflight information in a database updated in real-time by a team of volunteers located around the world. It is then made available to the public through an open standardized data retrieval portal. The information includes, but is not restricted to, all orbital launches since Sputnik 1, space agencies and companies, launch vehicles and pads, astronauts, spacecraft, space stations, as well as spaceflight events and news. This project distinguishes itself by its expansive user base, ranging from hobbyist app and website developers to content creators, teachers, academic groups, museums, analytics firms, and space agencies. The available data and features have progressed over multiple years in response to user feedback and industry trends, while their increasing popularity can be measured through the number of projects leveraging this service, their combined public reach, and their standing in the industry. Current assessments find that this initiative has garnered a global reach well into the multiple millions worldwide. This work elucidates key learnings for stakeholders in the field, underscoring the effectiveness of combining crowd-sourced data with precedence-based decision-making. It also highlights the importance of advocating for conservative consumption of public resources and finds that incorporating integrations with established entities from inception can significantly enhance interest in new offerings. Additionally, it emphasizes the benefits of instant and informal communication channels between users and team members for faster implementation of corrections and updates. Finally, it illustrates how finely tuned automations can help handle an increasing workload without compromising on quality of service. Overall, it showcases how a project such as The Space Devs stemming from a team of passionate volunteers collaborating across borders can meaningfully impact the landscape of space outreach and education